David Strettle’s injury jinx has struck again after he was ruled out of England’s two-Test series against Argentina with an abdominal illness.
Bath winger Matt Banahan has been promoted from the Saxons to replace Strettle in the England squad ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Pumas at Old Trafford.
England then travel from Manchester to Salta for the second Test on June 13.
Strettle is understood to be suffering from colitis, the latest interruption to an England career that has been plagued by injuries and illness.
Since his eye-catching debut against Ireland in the 2007 Six Nations, Strettle has only won six England caps.
The elusive Harlequins winger has suffered three separate broken metatarsals, one of which ruled him out of the 2007 World Cup squad.
Strettle also missed both Tests on the pre-World Cup tour to South Africa after being hospitalised by a gastric virus which swept through the squad.
England have concerns over Jamie Noon, who tweaked his right hamstring in yesterday’s 33-26 defeat to the Barbarians and was replaced at half-time.
Any decision on whether to replace the Brive-bound centre will be delayed until tomorrow.
Johnson does have plenty of midfield cover in his 34-man squad, with the likes Mathew Tait, Dan Hipkiss, Tom May and even Delon Armitage capable of playing at outside centre.
Armitage suffered a blow to the calf after another eye-catching individual performance while there were immediate post-match concerns surrounding Andy Goode and Danny Care.
But the England medics are confident they will all recover in time to be available for the Old Trafford Test.
Mark Cueto and Tait, who missed the Barbarians game with calf and shoulder problems respectively, are also expected to be fit to play.
Banahan, who stands 6ft 7in and weighs 18 stone, was one of the few England players to enhance his cause in yesterday’s non-cap international.
The Jersey-born winger marked his first senior England appearance with a try after being picked out by Goode’s cross-field kick.
“It was a good experience and I was quite happy with my performance,” said Banahan.
“Hopefully I have shown I am not out of my depth. When you play against people of the calibre of Doug Howlett you know you have got to step up. I really enjoyed it and it was nice to put myself in a position to score a try.”
